The Canberra Clasico in post season has almost become a tradition in the NPLW. In the last five Finals series, Canberra Olympic and Canberra Croatia have met four times. Croatia took the first two, and Olympic “equalised” on the way to their two Champions title in 2022 and 2023.
This Sunday at Riverside Stadium, a fifth encounter this season between the two powerhouses promises ninety minutes, at least, of exciting football, with a spot for the Grand Final at play. With eight successes and one draw in the last nine duels, Olympic is undoubtedly dominating the rivalry in recent times.
Just like in 2023, the team coached by Frank Cachia faces the Deakin side after failing to confirm their status against Belconnen in the qualifying final. 12 months ago, three first half goals put the O’Connor residents in a comfortable position.
Madison Cachia finished the job by scoring the fourth goal after the break, two minutes after Sienna Birnie, who has since swapped jerseys, had offered the Croatia faithful a glimmer of hope.
Zoran Glavinic’s team has evolved since that lost opportunity. Despite a complicated season, his talented group was in fine form last week to upset Gungahlin at McKellar. The careful balance seemed to have been crafted, between the years of the experience of the likes of Brittany Palombi and Jamie Berkeley, plus the pace and youthfulness of Nadia Zakman, Eliza-Jane Norris and Arusha Chew.
Berkeley was the hero of the most recent success the Deakin side earned against Olympic, earlier this season in the Federation Cup’s quarter final. Canberra Croatia had found the magic recipe that night, against a team who only conceded their third loss in all competitions in 2024 last Sunday.
Sunday is the opportunity for Olympic to right the ship and earn the chance to challenge Belconnen for a three-peat, but Canberra Croatia should never be underestimated in games of this importance.
FIXTURE
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Sunday 15 September
Canberra Olympic v Canberra Croatia
(Riverside Stadium, 16:00)
TOP SCORERS
17: Alyssa DI-CAMPLI (Belconnen United)
13: Madelyn WHITTALL (Canberra Olympic)
11: Hattie CRAM (Belconnen United), Ginger OLIVER (Gungahlin United), Brittany PALOMBI (Canberra Croatia), Reilly YUEN (Belconnen United)
9: Keira BOBBIN (Belconnen United)
8: Megan CASTLE (Canberra Croatia), Katrina PERIC (Canberra Olympic)
7: Darby WHITELEY (Gungahlin United)
6: Ella BROWN (Canberra Olympic), Madison CACHIA (Canberra Olympic), Arusha CHEW (Canberra Croatia), Alex MARTENS (Gungahlin United), Tatum MAZIS (Canberra Croatia), Sarah WHITFIELD (West Canberra Wanderers)
5: Tehya ASPLAND (Canberra Olympic), Alyse JENSEN (Belconnen United)
4: Natalie DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Alexandra GIDIS (West Canberra Wanderers), Lauren HALL (West Canberra Wanderers), Tianah MIRO (Canberra Olympic), Alex NEALAND (Gungahlin United), Alina ROBERTS (Belconnen United), Own GOALS
3: Isabella BARAC (Canberra Croatia), Cara CERUTI (Canberra Olympic), Sharon CHAO (Gungahlin United), Zoe HALPIN (West Canberra Wanderers), Isabella HINDMARSH (Belconnen United), Nicole JALOCHA (Canberra Olympic), Sheridan MCELLIGOTT (ANU WFC), Madeliene PERCEVAL (Gungahlin United)
2: Angelina BABIC (ANU WFC), Jamie BERKELEY (Canberra Croatia), Leila BILLINGTON (Belconnen United), Jaya BOWMAN (Canberra Olympic), Olivia BUYTEWEG (Gungahlin United), Sofia CHAVERRA (ANU WFC), Olivia HICKS (West Canberra Wanderers), Pascale LA HEI (Belconnen United), Saskia NEWMAN (ANU WFC), Ella PALFRAMAN (Canberra Croatia), Sofia PALYWODA (Belconnen United), Tiana PHILLIPS-MAYNARD (Tuggeranong United), Lauren PRESTON (Belconnen United), Bronte PYKE (Belconnen United), Allegra SENTI (West Canberra Wanderers), Kayla WRIGHT (Gungahlin United)
1: Eliza BAKER (ANU WFC), Amy BONGIORNO (Canberra Croatia), Leah CARNEGIE (Canberra Olympic), Luella COLEMAN (Belconnen United), Rachel CORBETT (Gungahlin United), Stella DE MARCO (Gungahlin United), Corinne DENTON (Gungahlin United), Jade EMMS (Belconnen United), Rhiannon FENSOM (Canberra Croatia), Edith FORDYCE-CROKER (ANU WFC), Julia HOGAN (ANU WFC), Elvein IBRAHIM (Tuggeranong United), Claire KENNEDY-SPENCER (Tuggeranong United), Tarah MANTHONGSY (Tuggeranong United), Sarah MATTHEWS (Tuggeranong United), Amy MOORE (Gungahlin United), Demi NIKIAS (West Canberra Wanderers), Sienna NESS (Canberra Olympic), Bessie RIETHMULLER (Canberra Olympic), Maddie STEINACKER (Belconnen United), Pearl TEIN (Belconnen United), Michaela THORNTON (Canberra Olympic), Jane VANZINO (Canberra Olympic), Audrey WARD (West Canberra Wanderers), Matylda WELLS-SHEATHER (Tuggeranong United), Nadia ZAKMAN (Canberra Croatia)
Words: Jeremy Magan
